Naples Children and Education Foundation Invests in Local Nonprofits
Naples Children and Education Foundation Invests in Nearly 40 Local Nonprofits
Benefitting Underprivileged and At-Risk Children in Collier County
Despite global health crisis, NCEF grants over $9.2 million in critical funding for 2021-2022
The Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), founders of the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), is proud to announce that it has invested more than $9.2 million this year in close to 40 local nonprofit organizations which are making a profound and sustaining difference in the lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County.
This investment in future generations comes from the proceeds of the 2021 NWWF and
includes traditional funding grants of $5.9 million, plus $3.2 million for three strategic initiatives
that fill fundamental gaps in local children’s services (Early Learning, Out-of-School Time and
Vision).
An additional $75,000 is being allocated for Collier CARES (Community Application for
Resources and Emergency Services), a free, bilingual mobile and web application designed for
the purpose of connecting people in need with the essential resources and services available in
Collier County. “Despite the unprecedented challenges of a global health crisis, our patrons, donors and Trustees were able to step up and fill the critical void in funding for children’s services in Collier County,” said John Walter, 2021 NCEF Grant Committee Chair. “We are proud to support those nonprofit organizations which are improving the lives of the most vulnerable children in our
community.”
This year, the number of beneficiaries receiving annual grants totaled 32, plus six other agencies that help fill important needs in the community by taking part in NCEF’s multi-partner strategic initiatives focusing on the well-being of the whole child. This year’s strategic initiatives are Early Learning, Out-of-Time School and Vision. The 2021 Festival’s Virtual Paddle Raise, “Your Gift Grants Hope,” brought in contributions of over $5.3 million to support the needs of the community.
The 2021 Festival raised approximately $7.4 million, bringing the total amount raised by the
NWWF to nearly $220 million since its inception in 2001. The Naples Winter Wine Festival marks its 21 st year, impacting more than 50 of the most effective nonprofits in the local community and providing more than 275,000 local children with the services and resources they need to excel. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event was re-engineered to prioritize the health and safety of all NCEF donors, patrons and partners.
The following is the full list of NCEF 2021 beneficiaries:
| Organization Name | 2021-2022 Awarded Amount |
| ABLE Academy | $170,000 |
| Avow Hospice | $85,000 |
| Better Together | $140,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast | $90,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Collier County | $450,000 |
| Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation | $75,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Collier County | $265,000 |
| Champions for Learning | $130,000 |
| Child’s Path (formerly Collier Child Care Resources – CCCR) | $130,000 |
| Children’s Advocacy Center of Collier County | $500,000 |
| Conservancy of Southwest Florida | $35,000 |
| Friends of Foster Children Forever | $377,000 |
| Fun Time Early Childhood Academy | $140,000 |
| Gargiulo Education Center | $80,000 |
| Grace Place for Children and Families | $370,000 |
| Guadalupe Center | $520,000 |
| Leadership Collier Foundation | $50,000 |
| Legal Aid Service of Collier County | $500,000 |
| Literacy Volunteers of Collier County | $50,000 |
| Music Scores! | $50,000 |
| Naples Therapeutic Riding Center | $220,000 |
| NCH Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition | $25,000 |
| PACE Center for Girls | $59,000 |
| Pathways Early Education Center of Immokalee | $225,000 |
| Special Olympics Florida, Inc. | $75,000 |
| St. Matthews House | $75,000 |
| Taste the Impact | $70,000 |
| The Shelter for Abused Women & Children | $200,000 |
| United Arts Council of Collier County | $40,000 |
| Valerie’s House | $85,000 |
| YMCA of South Collier | $375,000 |
| Youth Haven | $270,000 |
| Total Traditional Funding | $5,926,000 |
NCEF’s Blueprint Partner program highlights strategic initiative partners which exemplify the highest levels of efficacy and accountability in serving underprivileged and at-risk children in Collier County. Our unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community, one issue at a time. Each beneficiary is fully vetted, and many utilize that process as a “Good Housekeeping Stamp of Approval.” The Blueprint Partner program builds upon that process.
Below is a list of the Blueprint Partners receiving funding for the 2021-2022 grant term:
Strategic Initiatives
| Early Learning Initiative |
| ABLE Academy
Early Learning Coalition Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation (ELLM) Redlands Christian Migrant Association |
| Total Funding $1,160,000 |
| Out-of-School Time Initiative |
| Boys & Girls Club of Collier County
Guadalupe Center Redlands Christian Migrant Association The Immokalee Foundation |
| Total Funding$2,023,000 |
| Vision Initiative |
| PreK Screening Program $ 55,000 |
| Capacity Building |
| Collier CARES- Resource App$ 75,000 |
| Total 2021-2022 Funding | |
| Traditional Funding | $ 5,926,000 |
| Initiative Funding | $ 3,238,000 |
| Collier CARES | $ 75,000 |
| Total 2021-2022 Grant Awards | $ 9,239,000 |
In order to meet the needs of the community, funds were used from NCEF’s Reserve Funding to ensure that vulnerable children continue to have access to the essential services and resources needed to thrive. In a year with so many hardships, it was vital to invest in programs that will continue to fill voids in local children’s services.
About Naples Winter Wine Festival
The Naples Winter Wine Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in private homes and are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised nearly $220 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children.
About Naples Children & Education Foundation
The Naples Children & Education Foundation, the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival, is improving the educational, emotional and health outcomes of underprivileged and at-risk children. Through its annual grants and strategic initiatives, NCEF has impacted over 50 of the most effective nonprofits in the community, providing more than 275,000 children with the services and resources they need to excel. NCEF’s unique approach, which emphasizes collaboration between organizations and bridges public and private resources, has become a blueprint for how to transform a community, one issue at a time.
For additional information on the Naples Children & Education Foundation or the Naples Winter Wine Festival, contact Lisa Juliano at lisa@napleswinefestival.com or 239-514-2239.
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